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United Nations, Jan 12, 2010
Zero Waste: Theory & Practice Around the World Paul Connett, PhD Executive Director American Environmental Health Studies Project (AEHSP) www.AmericanHealthStudies.org [email protected] United Nations, Jan 12, 2010 OUTLINE A. A quick word about sustainability B. Zero Waste the Springboard to Sustainability C. The critical step forward D. From ZW to sustainability E. ZW around the world E. Back to the Big Picture A. A quick word about sustainability We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to Sustainability We would need FOUR planets if every one consumed as much as the average American We would need TWO planets if every one consumed as much as the average European Meanwhile, India, China etc. are copying our consumption patterns Something has got to change and the best place to start is with waste “The world has enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed” Mahatma Gandhi Our real task is to fight over-consumption Please note that while waste incineration is aggressively promoted by many companies and countries, it is NOT sustainable Kg Greenhouse gas/tonne Municipal Waste A combination of recycling and composting is 46 times better -461 at reducing greenhouse gases than X 46 Incineration generating electricty -10 Waste Management Options and Climate Change. AEA 2001 B. Zero Waste is the Springboard to SUSTAINABILITY ZERO WASTE IS A NEW DIRECTION THE NO BACK to INCINERATORS END OF WASTE MANAGEMENT NO to LANDFILLS THE NO BACK to INCINERATORS END OF WASTE MANAGEMENT NO to LANDFILLS THE FRONT END OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN THE KEY is to find a way to use COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY At the back end to drive INDUSTRIAL RESPONSIBILITY At the front end FOUR STEPS FROM ZERO WASTE TO SUSTAINABILITY 1) 2) 3) 4) THE FIRST STEP. THE OTHER PRACTICAL STEPS. THE KEY STEP TO GET TO ZW. USING ZW TO GET TO SUSTAINABILITY. 1. Zero Waste starts with something everyone has The ten things on the end of our hands! These are the “magic machines” which can make sure that we do not convert discarded resources into waste waste Resources Source Separation 2. Zero Waste continues with a series of simple steps which are Practical Cost effective and Politically acceptable Source Separation Door to Door Collection Source Separation Door to Door Collection Composting Source Separation Recycling Door to Door Collection Composting Source Separation Door to Door Collection Recycling Waste Reduction Initiatives Composting Source Separation Door to Door Collection Composting Recycling Waste Reduction Initiatives Reuse, Repair & Deconstruction Source Separation Door to Door Collection Composting Recycling Waste Reduction Initiatives Reuse, Repair & Deconstruction Economic Incentives 3. The critical step forward to achieve Zero waste This is where Community Responsibility Must be used to drive Industrial Responsibility Residual Separation & Research Facility Source Separation Door to Door Collection Composting Recycling Waste Reduction Initiatives Reuse, Repair & Deconstruction Economic Incentives Residual Separation & Research Center Residual Separation & Research Facility RESIDUAL SEPARATION & RESEARCH FACILITY 1. Built at entrance to landfill 2. No material can enter landfill without it being separated and screened 3. Toxics removed and identified 4. Dirty organics biologically stabilized 5. Non-recyclable materials STUDIED RESIDUAL SCREENING & RESEARCH FACILITY MORE RECYCLABLES MORE TOXICS DIRTY ORGANIC FRACTION NON-TOXIC, NON-BIODEGRADABLE FRACTION RESEARCH CENTER INTERIM LANDFILL BIOLOGICAL STABILIZATION RESIDUAL SEPARATION & RESEARCH FACILITY NON-RECYCABLE MATERIALS Local University Or Technical College RESEARCH CENTER RESEARCH CENTER Improve capture rate of reusables, recyclables and clean compostables Recommend improved waste avoidance strategies by local businesses Develop some local uses for some materials Recommend better industrial designs to industry on packaging and products Research for CLEAN Production The Message to Industry: • • • • If we can’t reuse it, recycle it or compost it, Industry shouldn’t be making it We need better industrial design for the 21st Century We cannot become sustainable without it WITH THE ZERO WASTE 2020 STRATEGY WE CONVERT 3 TONS OF TRASH into: 1 ton of compostables 1 ton of recyclables and 1 ton of EDUCATION for SUSTAINABILITY! Source Separation Door to Door Collection Composting Recycling Waste Reduction Initiatives Reuse, Repair & Deconstruction Economic Incentives Residual Separation & Research Center Source Separation Door to Door Collection Composting Recycling Waste Reduction Initiatives Reuse, Repair & Deconstruction Economic Incentives Residual Separation & Research Center Better Industrial Design Source Separation Door to Door Collection Composting Recycling Waste Reduction Initiatives Reuse, Repair & Deconstruction Economic Incentives Residual Separation & Research Center Better Industrial Design Temporary Landfill Source Separation Door to Door Collection Composting Recycling Waste Reduction Initiatives Reuse, Repair & Deconstruction Economic Incentives Residual Separation & Research Center Better Industrial Design Temporary Landfill 2020 San Francisco Population = 850,000 Very little space 50% waste diverted by 2000 63% waste diverted by 2004 70% waste diverted by 2008 72% waste diverted by 2009 GOAL:75% waste diverted by 2010 GOAL:100% by 2020 (or very close!) Separazione alla sorgente Raccolta Porta a Porta Compostaggio 70 - 80% Riutilizzo Iniziative Riparazione e Riduzione Riciclaggio Centro per la COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY rifiuti Comunita’ Incentivi Economici Residual Separation & Research Facility INTERIM LANDFILL Better Industrial Design 2020 Separazione alla sorgente Raccolta Porta a Porta Compostaggio 70-80% Riciclaggio COMUNITY Incentivi Economici INTERIM LANDFILL Riutilizzo Iniziative Riparazione e Riduzione Centro per la RESPONSIBILITY rifiuti Comunita’ 20-30% Separazione migliore del residuo e design Centro di INDUSTRIAL industriale ricerca RESPONSIBILITY 2020 Industrial Responsibility 1. Design for sustainability 2. Clean production 3. Extended Producer Responsibility Extended Producer Responsibilty - packaging • The Ontario (Canada) Beer industry has been using refillable glass bottles for 50 years • 98% recovered • Each bottle reused 18 times • It saves the company money • 2000 jobs in collection and cleaning • No cost to municipality Extended Producer Responsibilty - products XEROX CORPORATION EUROPE Recovers copying machines from 16 different countries Takes them to huge warehouses in the Netherlands, where the machines are stripped down for parts and materials 95% of materials recovered for reuse or recycling! This is saving Xerox $76 millions a year!! Solid waste is the visible face of inefficiency! For more examples of Industrial Responsibility Contact Gary Liss at [email protected] For more information on EPR initiatives contact Bill Sheehan at [email protected] 4. To move from Zero Waste to Sustainability we must use the wisest and brightest minds in our society Research Institute for Zero Waste and Sustainability Research Institute for Zero Waste and Sustainability 1)Research for better industrial design Research Institute for Zero Waste and Sustainability 1) Research for better industrial design 2) Linking zero waste with other key developments needed for sustainability Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable industries & Jobs Education For Sustainability Sustainable Architecture Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Community development Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Energy Better Industrial Design Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable industries & Jobs Education For Sustainability Sustainable Architecture Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Community development Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Energy Composting Better Industrial Design Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable industries & Jobs Education For Sustainability Sustainable Architecture Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Community development Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Energy Research Center Composting Better Industrial Design Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable industries & Jobs Education For Sustainability Sustainable Architecture Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Community development Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Energy Composting Better Industrial Design Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable industries & Jobs Research Center Education For Sustainability Deconstruction Sustainable Architecture Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Community development Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Energy Composting Better Industrial Design Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable industries & Jobs Research Center Education For Sustainability Deconstruction Sustainable Architecture Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Community development Sustainable Economic development Anaerobic Digestion Sustainable Energy Composting Better Industrial Design Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable industries & Jobs Research Center Education For Sustainability Deconstruction Sustainable Architecture Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Community development Sustainable Economic development Anaerobic Digestion Sustainable Energy Incineration is not sustainable energy! Composting Better Industrial Design Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable industries & Jobs Research Center Education For Sustainability Deconstruction Sustainable Architecture Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Community development Sustainable Economic development Anaerobic Digestion Sustainable Energy 100’s of “green boxes” Composting Better Industrial Design Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable industries & Jobs Research Center Education For Sustainability Deconstruction Sustainable Architecture Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Community development Sustainable Economic development Anaerobic Digestion Sustainable Energy 100’s of “green boxes” Composting Better Industrial Design Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable industries & Jobs Reuse & Repair Centers Research Center Education For Sustainability Deconstruction Sustainable Architecture Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Community development Sustainable Economic development Anaerobic Digestion Sustainable Energy 100’s of “green boxes” D. Progress towards Zero Waste around the world www.zwia.org www.GRRN.org www.no-burn.org (GAIA) California As a result of a state law passed in the early 1990’s hundreds of California cities exceeded over 50% diversion from landfills and incinerators by 2000 Some communities said why stop at 50%, why not 60%, 70%… Why not aim for Zero Waste? NEW ZEALAND Over 70% of communities have declared a Zero Waste strategy Prince Edward Island, Canada Whole island has door to door collection of recyclables and compostables Nova Scotia 50% diversion in 5 years (Halifax ~ 60%) 1000 jobs created collecting and treating discarded materials Another 2000 jobs created in the industries handling the collected material Nearly all the separated materials are reused in Nova Scotia’s own industries. Italy Over 2000 communities in Italy are achieving over 50% diversion using “door to door” collection systems Over 200 communities achieving over 70% diversion Italy Novara - (a city near Turin, population = 100,000) achieved 70% diversion in just 18 months! Italy The Treviso region - 22 communities averaging 76% diversion (Priula consortium) Italy Villafranco d’Asti (Piedmont) has reached 85% diversion Some other developments Canberra, Kovalam, Australia India The Philippines and The UK E. Some practicalities “The Fantastic 3” The San Francisco system I “Fantastici 4” Capannori, Italia Capannori LUNEDI ORGANICO MARTEDI MULTIMATERIALE MERCOLEDI CARTA GIOVEDI VENERDI FRAZIONE RESIDUA ORGANICO SABATO MULTIMATERIALE 1 2 3 1 Composting Facility 2 3 Composting plant for San Francisco 1 Composting Facility 2 3 1 Composting Facility 2 Materials Recovery Facility 3 MATERIALS RECOVERY FACIILITY at Pier 96 Cities Rural areas Composting Plants Recycling Plants 1 Composting Facility 2 Materials Recovery Facility 3 Residual Fraction We have to minimize the residual fraction with… 1) Waste reduction initiatives 2) Reuse, repair and deconstruction 3) Economic incentives Waste Reduction Initiatives Undesirable packaging Four options: Ban it Tax it Put a returnable deposit on it Avoid it Ireland Government put a 15 cent tax on plastic shopping bags reduced use by 92% in one year! Italy Several supermarket chains are providing dispensers which allow customers to refill shampoo and detergent bottles… As well as wine, water and milk Alcune iniziative italiane per la riduzione •Un pizzico di creatività a monte può far risparmiare milioni a valle Reuse, Repair and Deconstruction reuse Reuse, Repair & Deconstruction Urban Ore, Berkeley, California “Economically, incineration represents ONE BIG BLACK BOX The Zero Waste strategy represents 100’s of LITTLE GREEN BOXES” (Ted Ward, Zero Waste, Del Norte County, California) Deconstruction Deconstruction Reuse & Repair Center Deconstruction Reuse & Repair Center Furniture, Flooring, etc VIDEOS “On the Road to Zero Waste” Part 1: Nova Scotia Part 2: Burlington, Vermont Part 3: Canberra, Australia Part 4: San Francisco Zero Waste: Idealistic Dream or Realistic Goal? Pieces of Zero: Creativity versus Waste www.AmericanHealthStudies.org Economic Incentives The “ Pay by bag” system 1 2 3 The “ Pay by bag” system 1 free 2 3 The “ Pay by bag” system 1 2 free free 3 The “ Pay by bag” system 1 free 2 free $ The more you make, the more you pay! The “ Pay by bag” system 1 2 $ No No Surcharge! surcharge surcharge The “ Pay by bag” system 1 2 $ No No Surcharge! surcharge surcharge Total cost of program comes out of local taxes 1 Composting Facility 2 $ Community Initiatives to Reduce waste Materials Recovery Facility Residuals ? Reuse & Repair & Deconstruction Residual Separation & Research Facility One stop shopping! The Resource Recovery Park The Resource Recovery Park Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) The Resource Recovery Park Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHARM) The Resource Recovery Park Reuse & Repair Center The Resource Recovery Park Composting Facility The Resource Recovery Park Composting Facility The Resource Recovery Park C&D The Resource Recovery Park Residual Screening & Research Center Eric Lombardi, Eco-Cycle www.ecocycle.org F. Back to the Big Picture Current situation Consumption of materials Consumption of fossil fuels Standard of living Change 1 Solar Energy Consumption of materials Standard of living Change 2 Solar Energy Zero Waste Standard of living Change 3 Solar Energy Zero Waste Quality of Life We have to separate the Quality of life from the material consumption We have to separate the Quality of life from the material consumption Material consumption Quality of life We have to separate the Quality of life from the material consumption Material consumption Quality of life To fight over-consumption We need to swap a life built around acquiring a series of objects… To a life built around a series of expanding human relationships In the 1960’s “Make Love, Not War” In the 2000’s “Make Love, Not Waste” In the 2000’s “Make Friends, Not Waste” Conclusions We do not need mega-landfills or incinerators! There is a better alternative The ZERO WASTE strategy is Better for our health (LESS TOXICS) Better for the economy, Better for our children, and Better for the planet (MORE SUSTAINABLE)!